Fire claimed his young life, but Decerio Coley's presence will always be felt on the Baltimore block where he lived.

The city has honored the eight-year-old by ceremonially renaming part of Bruce Street "Decerio Coley Way".

Decerio braved the flames of his family's burning home to rescue his baby sister.

He tried, but couldn't rescue his younger brother from the June 16 blaze.

"it means a lot because it seems like so many people didn't recognize him when he was here and didn't see the true potential of my son," mom Rokea McCollough said. "But now that he's gone - sorry to say - everybody sees how wonderful and amazing him and "Junior" were."

The family made the difficult decision to take Coley off life support.

City Councilman William Welch, who pushed for the street's renaming, thanked city officials for their quick approval.

Welch says the city normally takes 45 to 90 days to okay a ceremonial street sign, but officials gave the go-ahead for "Decerio Coley Way" in just about five days.

The sign's unveiling Friday came one day before family and friends gather at a funeral to say a final funeral to the brothers.